Further Reading

It's August, the height of summer, and that means it's time for the season's traditional tent pole action movies. Hobbs & Shaw, the new Fast & Furious spinoff starring Idris Elba, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Vanessa Kirby, and Jason Statham has just reached the cinemas, and to say I'd been looking forward to catching up with the franchise's latest is an understatement.

The Rock is Luke Hobbs, an "always gets his man" type working for the US Diplomatic Security Service. Statham plays Deckard Shaw, a former British spec-ops fellow. Both characters were introduced in previous movies as antiheroes, but after teaming up—kind of—in 2017's Fate of the Furious, the forces of destiny (or the writers) have thrown them together in a buddy movie.

I don't want to give too much away about the plot, but there's a McGuffin, and Brixton—played by Idris Elba—wants it. He wants it bad. The problem is, the McGuffin has been injected into Vanessa Kirby's Hattie Shaw, MI6 spy and Deckard's sister. Obviously neither the Shaws nor Hobbses want Brixton to get his hands on the McGuffin, and the story goes from there.

It's not groundbreaking stuff. Director David Leitch is not re-writing the rules of narrative cinema. The film is formulaic. But it's a formula that's proven to work in the past, and it does so again in Hobbs & Shaw. This is a movie with a lot of action. A lot. Ignore complaints that the trailer gives the movie away—in films like this the plot is merely something that keeps us moving from fight scene to set piece to fight scene to set piece. Oh, and because it's a Fast and Furious film, there's the occasional bit of wholesome positivity about the importance of family or working together as a team.

Hobbs and Shaw bicker at each other throughout the movie. It's wonderful. The Stath appears at times to reprise his Rick Ford character from Spy, and we've seen the Rock crack wise in everything from The Rundown to Baywatch, so it's no surprise they're both great at it here. Kirby succeeds in holding her own; refreshingly the movie avoids the damsel in distress trope. Elba's performance is less humorous, but that's OK—he's the bad guy. And there are some great supporting actors, including Eddie Marsan, Ryan Reynolds, Helen Mirren, and Cliff Curtis.

Are there car chases? I like car chases.

Did I mention there was a lot of action in this movie? It's a Fast and Furious jam, so obviously a lot of that involves car chases. Without giving anything away, let me say that many Range Rovers died to make this film. There's also a McLaren 720S that gets a little scraped up, but that's OK because we see that Deckard Shaw has several more where that one came from. Plus a Mini Cooper that he strongly implies he used to conduct The Italian Job.

Actually, we do get to see where the McLarens came from because McLaren's Disney-meets-NASA HQ shows up, too—only it's been relocated to a remote part of Ukraine where it's functioning as the nerve center for Eteon, the evil organization that the Hobbses and the Shaws are trying to stop.

Further Reading

Finally, a word of warning, and this is important: if you want to enjoy this film, you must be able to suspend your disbelief. I'm serious—thinking too hard about any of it will just bring the whole edifice crashing to earth.

If you're going to be bothered by unrealistic depictions of bionics, biotech, cars that are bigger on the inside than the outside, how hand grenades work, how jumping out of tall buildings works, the logistics involved in getting the same MH-60 helicopter from one side of the planet to the other, transforming electric motorcycles, or a chain of hot rods and customs trying to drag a helicopter back to Earth using just one pair of wheels, then you will probably not enjoy this film.

On the other hand, if you're content to sit back for 135 minutes and just go with it, I'm confident you'll get your money's worth from Hobbs & Shaw.

It's hard to imagine that a single movie about cool cars going fast and drifting around corners managed to turn into a decades-spanning 007-esque franchise.

Right? Pretty crazy. Years ago, when there were only 6 movies, a friend and I did a marathon of them over a weekend. Only we took it a step further - we actually made up some scoresheets and each of us came up with a 'best of' for each film. Best car, best driving sequence, best supporting character, best single scene etc...there were a lot of things, I can't remember. At the end, we kind of scored them all and compared them all with one another. It was a lot of fun! We did this all in one Saturday.

Now, we'd need at least two days to do all of that. Yikes!

I'll probably see this one in theaters too, like the others. I love the experience of going to the theater, especially the nice ones around here with the big reclining chairs, and big wide aisles between rows of seats. I'll recline back with my big tub of popcorn and just be entertained for two-ish hours

It's hard to imagine that a single movie about cool cars going fast and drifting around corners managed to turn into a decades-spanning 007-esque franchise.

Right? Pretty crazy. Years ago, when there were only 6 movies, a friend and I did a marathon of them over a weekend. Only we took it a step further - we actually made up some scoresheets and each of us came up with a 'best of' for each film. Best car, best driving sequence, best supporting character, best single scene etc...there were a lot of things, I can't remember. At the end, we kind of scored them all and compared them all with one another. It was a lot of fun! We did this all in one Saturday.

Now, we'd need at least two days to do all of that. Yikes!

You'll probably really enjoy a piece that we're about to publish, in that case.

It's hard to imagine that a single movie about cool cars going fast and drifting around corners managed to turn into a decades-spanning 007-esque franchise.

Right? Pretty crazy. Years ago, when there were only 6 movies, a friend and I did a marathon of them over a weekend. Only we took it a step further - we actually made up some scoresheets and each of us came up with a 'best of' for each film. Best car, best driving sequence, best supporting character, best single scene etc...there were a lot of things, I can't remember. At the end, we kind of scored them all and compared them all with one another. It was a lot of fun! We did this all in one Saturday.

Now, we'd need at least two days to do all of that. Yikes!

You'll probably really enjoy a piece that we're about to publish, in that case.

It's hard to imagine that a single movie about cool cars going fast and drifting around corners managed to turn into a decades-spanning 007-esque franchise.

I HIGHLY recommend that you watch this episode of commentary on the series, created by the person who was responsible for the design of the cars in the first three movies. To put him in context - without this guy, Paul Walker's Nissan GTR would have been a Dodge Neon SRT-4 instead (not a joke).

So how are the FF movies? I think I've seen a trailer for one of them and it looked so very silly, but like in a bad way, and I have a friend who takes them very seriously.

But are they actually good movies? It feels like there's no way they can be good, but that's probably a personsal problem.

I watched the first two films years ago, and while they certainly aren't Aaron Sorkin-level writing on display, they are the epitome of car chases in film. If you want fast cars and a smattering of violence and bare skin, you're not going to find anything better, besides maybe Mad Max Fury Road. I can't speak for the films after the first two, but the first two are alright.

We did some PR contract work for the producers of this movie and were able to get onto the set while they were filming this. Nice people, Statham is a nice guy, Dwayne Johnson I had met before a few years ago and he actually remembered and a nice guy, Vanessa Kirby was great and really funny. Idris Elba we had just missed by a few minutes but I had already met him once before.

So how are the FF movies? I think I've seen a trailer for one of them and it looked so very silly, but like in a bad way, and I have a friend who takes them very seriously.

But are they actually good movies? It feels like there's no way they can be good, but that's probably a personsal problem.

I watched the first two films years ago, and while they certainly aren't Aaron Sorkin-level writing on display, they are the epitome of car chases in film. If you want fast cars and a smattering of violence and bare skin, you're not going to find anything better, besides maybe Mad Max Fury Road. I can't speak for the films after the first two, but the first two are alright.

// they are the epitome of car chases in film

.... if you love fake cgi car chases, sure. <Coughs in Bullitt and French Connection>

It's hard to imagine that a single movie about cool cars going fast and drifting around corners managed to turn into a decades-spanning 007-esque franchise.

Right? Pretty crazy. Years ago, when there were only 6 movies, a friend and I did a marathon of them over a weekend. Only we took it a step further - we actually made up some scoresheets and each of us came up with a 'best of' for each film. Best car, best driving sequence, best supporting character, best single scene etc...there were a lot of things, I can't remember. At the end, we kind of scored them all and compared them all with one another. It was a lot of fun! We did this all in one Saturday.

Now, we'd need at least two days to do all of that. Yikes!

You'll probably really enjoy a piece that we're about to publish, in that case.

I actually enjoy the later movies more than the earlier ones - the first few were still (sort of) grounded in reality and for me they really took off when they just fully embraced the "we're going to see how far we can bend the rules of physics before you guys stop coming to watch us" (around fast 5)

So how are the FF movies? I think I've seen a trailer for one of them and it looked so very silly, but like in a bad way, and I have a friend who takes them very seriously.

But are they actually good movies? It feels like there's no way they can be good, but that's probably a personsal problem.

I've always considered them B-movie good. They're just fun. And that's totally ok! Don't take them seriously and you can have a good time with them. Like the author said, you kind of have to be able to "just go with it." Sure, you'll find yourself rolling your eyes or facepalming on occasion, but that's also part of the charm of it all IMO. ^_^

Make some popcorn, throw back a few (ok, many) drinks, and have fun for a couple hours. You might like them. Or hate them. Either way, they can certainly be entertaining.

I actually enjoy the later movies more than the earlier ones - the first few were still (sort of) grounded in reality and for me they really took off when they just fully embraced the "we're going to see how far we can bend the rules of physics before you guys stop coming to watch us" (around fast 5)

Well...

6 did 788 Million dollars worldwide at the box office7 did 1.516 BILLION at the box office8 did come in below Seven at 1.236 BILLION, but I would gather that 7 was fueled in part by the untimely death of Paul Walker.

So how are the FF movies? I think I've seen a trailer for one of them and it looked so very silly, but like in a bad way, and I have a friend who takes them very seriously.

But are they actually good movies? It feels like there's no way they can be good, but that's probably a personsal problem.

I watched the first two films years ago, and while they certainly aren't Aaron Sorkin-level writing on display, they are the epitome of car chases in film. If you want fast cars and a smattering of violence and bare skin, you're not going to find anything better, besides maybe Mad Max Fury Road. I can't speak for the films after the first two, but the first two are alright.

// they are the epitome of car chases in film

.... if you love fake cgi car chases, sure. <Coughs in Bullitt and French Connection>

This one is rife with annoying adds but goes through the series best real stunts, including a real tank destroying cars on the highway and the fact that the "safe scene" from Fast Five actually used a real 4 ton metal safe being dragged behind muscles cars down the streets of Rio.

I watched all of the FandF movies, save the last one, which I couldn’t get through, because it got too schmaltzy. I think I’m done with FandF. I’m certainly done with Dwayne Johnson.

It was a great run. I highly recommend the first one to anyone who loves action films. I thoroughly enjoyed how the movies progressively gave less and less of a shit about what was plausible. Every problem was solved by racing cars. Great ridiculous fun!

I watched all of the FandF movies, save the last one, which I couldn’t get through, because it got too schmaltzy. I think I’m done with FandF. I’m certainly done with Dwayne Johnson.

It was a great run. I highly recommend the first one to anyone who loves action films. I thoroughly enjoyed how the movies progressively gave less and less of a shit about what was plausible. Every problem was solved by racing cars. Great ridiculous fun!

Why would you be done with Dwayne Johnson? Dude is endlessly entertaining in literally everything I've ever seen him in.

So how are the FF movies? I think I've seen a trailer for one of them and it looked so very silly, but like in a bad way, and I have a friend who takes them very seriously.

But are they actually good movies? It feels like there's no way they can be good, but that's probably a personsal problem.

I watched the first two films years ago, and while they certainly aren't Aaron Sorkin-level writing on display, they are the epitome of car chases in film. If you want fast cars and a smattering of violence and bare skin, you're not going to find anything better, besides maybe Mad Max Fury Road. I can't speak for the films after the first two, but the first two are alright.

// they are the epitome of car chases in film

.... if you love fake cgi car chases, sure. <Coughs in Bullitt and French Connection>

So how are the FF movies? I think I've seen a trailer for one of them and it looked so very silly, but like in a bad way, and I have a friend who takes them very seriously.

But are they actually good movies? It feels like there's no way they can be good, but that's probably a personsal problem.

I watched the first two films years ago, and while they certainly aren't Aaron Sorkin-level writing on display, they are the epitome of car chases in film. If you want fast cars and a smattering of violence and bare skin, you're not going to find anything better, besides maybe Mad Max Fury Road. I can't speak for the films after the first two, but the first two are alright.

// they are the epitome of car chases in film

.... if you love fake cgi car chases, sure. <Coughs in Bullitt and French Connection>

So how are the FF movies? I think I've seen a trailer for one of them and it looked so very silly, but like in a bad way, and I have a friend who takes them very seriously.

But are they actually good movies? It feels like there's no way they can be good, but that's probably a personsal problem.

It depends. What constitutes a "good" movie to you? Also, the tone and scope of the movies change drastically as the series goes on. The earlier ones, characteristically, are much different than the later ones.

There are positive messages to be found in them, like the importance of family and friendships and loyalty, but they don't go out of their way to club you over the head with these, and they aren't deep philosophical dives that provoke deep thought and critical thinking. Just a small scene here or there, a single line of dialogue here or there.

The action and driving sequences in the earlier movies are actually quite good, without being too unrealistically over the top for the most part. The super extreme, ridiculously unbelievable stuff is the exception in the earlier movies, not the norm. That flips in the later movies, with the action sequences becoming more and more unbelievable and extravagant as the series goes on.

So I guess it depends how you feel about all of that stuff if you would enjoy them or not. I enjoy all of them, while recognizing that they are characteristically different. They're all good for entertainment purposes to me, but again, it depends on what you look for in a movie and what you consider a good movie.

I actually enjoy the later movies more than the earlier ones - the first few were still (sort of) grounded in reality and for me they really took off when they just fully embraced the "we're going to see how far we can bend the rules of physics before you guys stop coming to watch us" (around fast 5)

For sure! They definitely go through that tonal shift, and it does start to get really jarring around number 5/6. I still appreciate all the different iterations, though.

So how are the FF movies? I think I've seen a trailer for one of them and it looked so very silly, but like in a bad way, and I have a friend who takes them very seriously.

But are they actually good movies? It feels like there's no way they can be good, but that's probably a personsal problem.

I watched the first two films years ago, and while they certainly aren't Aaron Sorkin-level writing on display, they are the epitome of car chases in film. If you want fast cars and a smattering of violence and bare skin, you're not going to find anything better, besides maybe Mad Max Fury Road. I can't speak for the films after the first two, but the first two are alright.

// they are the epitome of car chases in film

.... if you love fake cgi car chases, sure. <Coughs in Bullitt and French Connection>

And Baby Driver. And the Bourne trilogy. And the Italian Job.

Ronin wins.

Ronin it's also great. I also forgot about Matrix Reloaded. If I remember correctly, they build a highway for the chase scene.

So how are the FF movies? I think I've seen a trailer for one of them and it looked so very silly, but like in a bad way, and I have a friend who takes them very seriously.

But are they actually good movies? It feels like there's no way they can be good, but that's probably a personsal problem.

I watched the first two films years ago, and while they certainly aren't Aaron Sorkin-level writing on display, they are the epitome of car chases in film. If you want fast cars and a smattering of violence and bare skin, you're not going to find anything better, besides maybe Mad Max Fury Road. I can't speak for the films after the first two, but the first two are alright.

// they are the epitome of car chases in film

.... if you love fake cgi car chases, sure. <Coughs in Bullitt and French Connection>

And Baby Driver. And the Bourne trilogy. And the Italian Job.

Ronin wins.

Ronin is very underrated in many regards. It's one of the best movies that few people have seen, in my opinion. The car chase scenes in that are really, really good.

FF does have some really great driving sequences though, and some real stunts. In my aforementioned marathon with my buddy, we actually discovered that the second movie (2Fast, 2Furious) actually has the most driving sequences in terms of volume, and that many of them are actually quite good! It might have the worst title of all the films, though

As mentioned previously, the scene from Fast 5 with the safe in Rio was actually a real 4-ton safe, being dragged by real Dodge Chargers.

Best car stunt in film history? No...but it's a little unfair to just dismiss FFs driving sequences and stunts as CGI trash, when many of the earlier movies had lots of real driving sequences and minimal CGI.

So how are the FF movies? I think I've seen a trailer for one of them and it looked so very silly, but like in a bad way, and I have a friend who takes them very seriously.

But are they actually good movies? It feels like there's no way they can be good, but that's probably a personsal problem.

I watched the first two films years ago, and while they certainly aren't Aaron Sorkin-level writing on display, they are the epitome of car chases in film. If you want fast cars and a smattering of violence and bare skin, you're not going to find anything better, besides maybe Mad Max Fury Road. I can't speak for the films after the first two, but the first two are alright.

// they are the epitome of car chases in film

.... if you love fake cgi car chases, sure. <Coughs in Bullitt and French Connection>

And Baby Driver. And the Bourne trilogy. And the Italian Job.

Ronin wins.

Ronin it's also great. I also forgot about Matrix Reloaded. If I remember correctly, they build a highway for the chase scene.

Also Statham's Transporters movies used a lot of real driving. Pretty rad.